In 1787, Wilberforce came into contact with Thomas Clarkson and a group of activists against the transatlantic slave trade, including Granville Sharp, Hannah More and Charles Middleton. They persuaded Wilberforce to take on the cause of abolition, and he became a leading English abolitionist. He headed the parliamentary campaign against the British slave trade for 20 years until the passage of the Slave Trade Act 1807.
Life and Career
Wilberforce was convinced of the importance of religion, morality and education. He championed causes and campaigns such as the Society for the Suppression of Vice, British missionary work in India, the creation of a free colony in Sierra Leone, the foundation of the Church Mission Society and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. His underlying conservatism led him to support politically and socially repressive legislation, and resulted in criticism that he was ignoring injustices at home while campaigning for the enslaved abroad.
In later years, Wilberforce supported the campaign for the complete abolition of slavery and continued his involvement after 1826, when he resigned from Parliament because of his failing health. That campaign led to the Slavery Abolition Act 1833, which abolished slavery in most of the British Empire. Wilberforce died just three days after hearing that the passage of the act through Parliament was assured. He was buried in Westminster Abbey, close to his friend William Pitt the Younger.
Key Facts
- Born: August 24, 1759 in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England
- Died: 1833
- Field: Politics
Legacy and Impact
The influence of William Wilberforce extends far beyond his own lifetime. He fundamentally shaped governance and political thought, and his leadership and political achievements remain foundational to this day.
Though he passed away in 1833, his ideas continue to be studied, debated, and built upon by scholars and practitioners worldwide.
William Wilberforce remains one of the most celebrated minds to emerge from England, a testament to the rich intellectual heritage of the region.
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